April 1, 2011 - U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP)
officers turned over an
Ohio
man they arrested to U.S. Immigration and Customs
Enforcement's (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations
(HSI) special agents for allegedly lying about the
amount of money he was carrying when questioned by
federal authorities.

CBP officers arrested Libious Asefa, 42, of Columbus, Ohio, at WashingtonDullesInternationalAirport after officers
discovered $18,525 on Asefa's person and luggage.
According to court records, officers offered Asefa
multiple opportunities to amend his currency
declaration; however, court records state that Asefa
admitted orally and in writing to possessing only
$12,500.

CBP
routinely conducts random currency inspections of inbound and
outbound travelers. There is no limit to how much currency
travelers can import or export; however 31 U.S.C. 5316 requires
travelers to declare amounts exceeding $10,000 in U.S. dollars
or equivalent foreign currency.

"Failing
to report the transportation of more than $10,000 into or out of
the United States is smuggling," said John P. Torres, special
agent in charge of ICE HSI in Washington, D.C. "ICE works
closely with CBP and our state, local and federal partners to
ensure that those who attempt to smuggle currency in excess of
$10,000 are identified, encountered and arrested."

CBP
officers turned Asefa over to HSI special agents. CBP routinely
works with HSI on a variety of cases with the primary
responsibility of carrying out the initial seizure at a port of
entry. HSI special agents conducted an in-depth interview of
Asefa after his apprehension by CBP officers and presented the
criminal matter to the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Eastern
District of Virginia for prosecution.

The U.S.
Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of Virginia filed a
criminal complaint against Asefa, charging him with making a
false statement, which carries a maximum penalty of five years
in prison.

"Travelers
who lie when reporting their currency risk losing it and may
face criminal charges," said Christopher Hess, CBP port director
for the Port
of Washington.
"The easiest way to hold on to your currency is to report it.
It's that simple." Asefa arrived at Dulles from
Columbus,
Ohio, and was stopped by CBP officers while
boarding a flight to
Addis Ababa,
Ethiopia.

According to court
documents, CBP officers explained to Asefa the federal currency
reporting requirement and had him read it. Once Asefa acknowledged that
he understood the reporting requirement, CBP officers asked Asefa to
write the amount of currency in his possession on the form and to
initial the form. Asefa allegedly maintained that he possessed $12,500.
Court records indicate that CBP officers discovered several envelopes
that contained a combined $18,525.

In 2005, ICE partnered with
CBP to launch Operation Firewall, a comprehensive law enforcement
operation targeting criminal organizations involved in the smuggling of
large quantities of U.S.
currency. At U.S.
ports-of-entry, ICE and CBP partner to combat cash smuggling and within
the U.S.,
ICE works with state and local partners to identify and intercept
smuggled bulk cash shipments being transported along domestic interstate
highways.

Since its inception in 2005, Operation Firewall has
resulted in more than 5,100 seizures totaling more than
$494 million and the arrest of more than 1,000
individuals. These efforts include more 300
international seizures totaling more than $236 million
and over 215 international arrests.